More People Take Tobacco

Tobacco farm

THE PRODUCTION and consumption of tobacco within rural communities in the Northern region has assumed an alarming proportion, health authorities have warned.

Famers in these communities have resorted to production of the crop in large quantities in the dry season which they consume fresh or refine into cigarettes and snuffs for sniffing which experts say has negative health implications.

Despite the throat and gum infections as well as the cancerous effects associated with the habit, the practice is on the increase   among the rural folk giving cause for concern.

The Deputy Director of Public Health of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the region, Dr. Jacob Mahama who bemoaned the worrying situation there, disclosed that most families had adopted the cultivation of tobacco as their only source of livelihood.

Dr. Mahama who was addressing the press during a regional review meeting in Tamale was particularly worried that the youth had started smoking and attributed the canker to the proliferation of foreign tobacco companies that have succeeded in influencing poor farmers to cultivate the harmful product.

According to him, besides being refined for the production of cigarettes which is also considered harmful to public health, no direct benefits were derived from tobacco.

He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to initiate moves that will enable farmers in rural communities to divert into the cultivation of vital food crops that will impact positively on their lives.

'Tobacco is dangerous and we must all endeavour to stay away from it,' he emphasized.

Latest statistics he noted indicated that the prevalence rate of tobacco use is on the rise with the youth being the worst offenders.

He therefore advised that laws be promulgated to regulate the cultivation of tobacco in the region to save the lives of the growing population.

Dr. Mahama observed that the low capital investment in the cultivation of tobacco which requires little or no water to grow had pushed many rural folk into its commercial production.

He reiterated the dangers associated with smoking, sniffing and consuming tobacco and cautioned residents to stop the practice.

The media was also called upon to partner the GHS to sensitize  communities on the dangers of smoking and tobacco use.

From Stephen Zoure, Tamale